Abstract: Novel fluoride containing substituted smectite clays are disclosed as well as their preparation and uses. The clay has the formulaA.sub.x (M.sub.y M'.sub.4--y)(Si.sub.8--x M.sub.t M'.sub.v)O.sub.20 (OH).sub.4--u F.sub.uwhere A is a cation, M and M' are metals having a +3 oxidation state, each selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, iron and chromium, x is the moles of A, y is the moles of M, t and v are the moles of M and M' in the tetrahedral layer and t+v=x and u is the moles of F. The clay composition may be used as is or after pillaring to catalyze hydrocarbon conversion processes such as alkylation.

Abstract: Tetrahedrally charged clays have been found to be active, regenerable catalysts in detergent alkylation, both as delaminated and pillared clays. The pillared saponites and beidellites are especially favored in forming detergent range alkylates using olefins as the alkylating agent to afford products with high monoalkylation selectivity and high linearity. Catalysts can be regenerated by a benzene wash or, after severe deactivation, by a carbon burn.

Abstract: A process of effecting an acid catalyzed reaction wherein a reactant capable of undergoing an acid catalyzed reaction is contacted with an acid functionalized organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane catalyst where all of the acid functionality is covalently bonded to the organic portion of an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane framework has been developed. The acid functionalized organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane is formed by polymerizing a monomer through sol-gel processing to form an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, reacting an acid group onto the organic portion of the organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, and recovering the acid functionalized product. An embodiment of the invention is where the acid catalyzed reaction is the hydration of olefins, alkylation, acylation, isomerization, or aldol condensation/elimination.

Abstract: A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. A naphtha feedstock is subjected to ring cleavage to convert naphthenes to paraffins using a nonacidic catalyst followed by isomerization of paraffins to obtain an increased proportion of isoparaffins.

Abstract: A catalytic mixture of discrete solid materials and a mercaptan oxidation process for using the catalytic mixture have been developed. The catalytic mixture comprises a metal chelate dispersed on a non-basic solid support and a solid base. The process involves contacting a sour middle distillate hydrocarbon fraction which contains mercaptans with the supported metal chelate and the solid base mixture in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a polar compound. The process is unique in that both the catalyst and the base are discrete solid materials.

Abstract: A catalytic system of physically separate and discrete solid materials and a mercaptan oxidation process for using the catalytic system have been developed. The catalytic system comprises a supported metal chelate dispersed on a non-basic solid support and a solid base. The process involves contacting a sour middle distillate hydrocarbon fraction which contains mercaptans first with the solid base and then, in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a polar compound, with the supported metal chelate. The process is unique in that both the catalyst and the base are solid materials and that the solid base is in a separate fixed bed from the supported metal chelate.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion processes are disclosed which are catalyzed by novel pillared clay compositions. The clay contains pillars which are at least partially fluorided. These pillars are metal fluoro hydroxy cations where the metal can be Al, Zr, Si/Al, Ti or Cr. The clays which can be pillared with these pillars are the smectite clays which include hectorite and beidellite along with synthetically prepared smectite clays. These clays are prepared by pillaring the clay, followed by calcination and then treatment with a fluoride salt such as ammonium bifluoride.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion processes such as alkylation and hydrocracking are described which use as the catalyst a novel beidellite clay. The clay has the empirical formulaA.sub.x (Al.sub.4)(Si.sub.8-x Al.sub.x)(O.sub.20)(OH).sub.4-u F.sub.uwhere A is a cation such as an alkali metal, x is the moles of A and varies from about 0.1 to about 2, and u varies from about 0.1 to about 3.5. The clay is prepared from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of aluminum and silicon, a cation salt, a fluoride source and water.

Abstract: Ternary metal oxide solid solutions containing permutations of magnesium, nickel, and cobalt with trivalent metals such as aluminum, chromium, gallium, and iron show unusual resistance to rehydration. In addition, the ternary metal oxide solid solutions containing magnesium show unusual basic behavior with small incremental changes in magnesium content, especially where the magnesium represents under about 25 gram atom percent of all divalent metal cations. Such materials show promise as catalysts and adsorbents per se, and also have promise as hydrothermally stable carriers for catalytically active species.

Abstract: Novel pillared clay compositions have been synthesized. The clay contains pillars which are at least partially fluorided. These pillars are metal fluoro hydroxy cations where the metal can be Al, Zr, Si/Al, Ti or Cr. The clays which can be pillared with these pillars are the smectite clays which include hectorite and beidellite along with synthetically prepared smectite clays. These clays are prepared by pillaring the clay, followed by calcination and then treatment with a fluoride salt such as ammonium bifluoride. Finally, these fluorided pillared clays find applications in hydrocarbon conversion processes such as alkylation.

Abstract: A process for forming a solid acid catalyst where all of the add functionality is covalently bonded to the organic portion of an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane framework has been developed. The process involves polymerizing a monomer through sol-gel processing to form an organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, reacting an acid group onto the organic portion of the organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane, and recovering the acid functionalized product. The invention also includes the product acid functionalized organically-bridged polysilsesquioxane catalyst of the process described. The catalyst is unique in that the acid functionality is incorporated within an organic-inorganic hybrid framework as opposed to being attached to pendant organic groups.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur containing compounds from various liquid organic feedstreams has been developed. The process involves contacting the feed stream with a metal oxide solid solution which adsorbs the sulfur containing compounds. Examples of these solid solutions are Mg/Al and Ni/Mg/Al oxide solid solutions.

Abstract: An improved process for treating a sour hydrocarbon stream has been developed. This process involves contacting the sour hydrocarbon fraction with a metal oxide solid solution in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as air or oxygen. One example of a solid solution which can be used is a nickel oxide/magnesium oxide/aluminum oxide solid solution.

Abstract: A catalyst and a process for using the catalyst have been developed. The catalyst is a metal chelate dispersed on a basic support which is a combination of a solid base and a secondary component. The solid base can be a solid solution of metal oxides and/or a layered double hydroxide (LDH) and the secondary component can be calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. The process involves contacting a sour hydrocarbon fraction which contains mercaptans with the catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a polar compound. Examples of these polar compounds are water and alcohols, with methanol being especially preferred. The process is unique in that the solid solution or LDH are solid bases which eliminates the need for a liquid base. Optionally, an onium compound may be used as a catalyst promoter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel beidellite clay, a process for preparing the clay and processes using the clay. The clay has the empirical formulaA.sub.x (Al.sub.4)(Si.sub.8-x Al.sub.x)(O.sub.20)(OH.sub.4-u F.sub.u)where A is a cation, x is the moles of A and varies from about 0.1 to about 2, and u varies from about 0.1 to about 3.5. The clay is prepared from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of aluminum and silicon, a cation salt, a fluoride source and water. The mixture is reacted at a pH of about 4 to about 9, a temperature of about 150.degree. to about 300.degree. C. for a time of about 1 to about 20 days. The clay composition may be used as is or after pillaring to catalyze hydrocarbon conversion processes such as alkylation.

Abstract: A process for treating a hydrocarbon fraction which contains mercaptans has been developed. The process uses a novel catalyst which is composed of a metal chelate dispersed on a basic support which is either a solid solution of metal oxides or a layered double hydroxide (LDH). In the process the hydrocarbon fraction is contacted with the catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a polar compound. Examples of these polar compounds are water and alcohols, with methanol being especially preferred. The process is unique in that the solid solution or LDH are solid bases which eliminates the need for a liquid base. Optionally, an onium compound may be used as a catalyst promoter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrocarbon conversion process using a novel beidellite layered clay as the catalyst. The clay is characterized in that it is substantially free of sodium cations, is composed of crystals whose average crystallites size is about 50-150 Angstroms, has a surface area of at least 80 m.sup.2 /g and has its 060 X-ray diffraction peak at a d-spacing of 1.50 Angstroms. The clay is prepared from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of aluminum and silicon, a templating agent and water. The mixture is reacted at a pH of about 8.5 to about 14, a temperature of about 150.degree. to about 210.degree. C. for a time of about 1 to about 20 days. The clay may be used as is or after pillaring the layers with pillars such as alumina, ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, etc. The hydrocarbon processes which can be catalyzed by this clay are cracking, hydrocracking and alkylation of both aromatic and paraffinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrocarbon conversion process using a novel dioctahedral smectite layered clay as the catalyst. The clay is characterized in that the aluminum and silicon in the clay can be substituted by gallium, silicon and germanium respectively. Therefore, some of the possible clays that can be prepared are gallium/silicon, gallium/germanium, or aluminum/germanium smectite clays. The clay is prepared from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of the metals, i.e., aluminum, silicon, gallium and germanium, a templating agent and water. The clay compositions can be used as is or after pillaring the layers with pillars such as alumina or zirconia. The hydrocarbon processes which can be catalyzed by these clays include cracking, hydrocracking and alkylation.

Abstract: Solid solutions of magnesium oxide-aluminum oxide related to hydrotalcite and what previously has been referred to as synthetic hydrotalcites, have been prepared with a surface area in excess of 250 m.sup.2 /g, especially at low Mg/Al atom ratios. Such high surface area materials are found to be quite effective in the aldol condensation of aldehydes, and in particular in the conversion of n-butyraldehyde to 2-ethyl-2-hexenal in high yield and with good selectivity in a liquid phase reaction at temperatures under about 200.degree. C.

Abstract: Solid solutions of a class of divalent metal oxides and a class of trivalent metal oxides resulting from calcination of layered double hydroxides related to hydrotalcite have been prepared with a surface area in excess of 150 m.sup.2 /g. Such high surface area materials are found to be quite effective in the aldol condensation of aldehydes and ketones, and in particular in the conversion of n-butyraldehyde to 2-ethyl-2-hexenal in high yield and with good selectivity in a liquid phase reaction at temperatures under about 200.degree. C. Variants can be devised where the aldol condensation product, an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehyde or ketone, is concurrently reduced to the saturated alcohol under process conditions.